Fluid-operated device

ABSTRACT

A device comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a rod extending through the piston, the rod being fast to one end of the cylinder and projecting through the other end of the cylinder, the piston being slidable on the rod, a head on the outer end of the rod, the cylinder having a fluid inlet in said first end to force the piston toward said head so as to clamp an article between the piston and head, and a spring for retracting the piston when fluid pressure is stopped, the spring surrounding said rod between the piston and head and said inlet extending through the rod.

United States Patent Mclntier [54] FLUID-OPERATED DEVICE [72] inventor: Edwin Ralph Mclntier, Madison, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Richard G. Sweitzer, Madison, Conn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 19,880

[52] U.S. CI ..92/107, 269/33 [51] Int. Cl ..F0lb 31/00 [58] Field oi Search...

(451 May 30, 1972 552,620 4/1943 Great Britain ..269/33 53,692 2/1890 Germany 92/109 Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Ronald l-l. Lazarus Attorney-Roberts, Cushman & Grover ABSTRACT A device comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a rod extending through the piston, the rod being fast to one end of the cylinder and projecting through the other end of the cylinder, the piston being slidable on the rod, a head on the outer end of the rod, the cylinder having a fluid inlet in said first end to force the piston toward said head so as to clamp an article between the piston and head, and a spring for retracting the piston when fluid pressure is stopped, the spring surrounding said rod between the piston and head and said inlet extending through the rod.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,815

WI JUNE 7 FLUID-OPERATED DEVICE Objects of the invention are to provide a device which is simple and economical to construct, which is well balanced, which can be easily adjusted to apply the same force each time, which can be applied quickly and easily and which is durable and reliable in use.

According to this invention the device comprises a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a rod extending through the piston, the .rod being fast to one end of the cylinder and projecting through the other end of the cylinder, the piston being slidable on the rod, the cylinder having a fluid inlet in said first end to force the piston away from said end and means for retracting the piston when fluid pressure is stopped. Preferably the rod has a head on its outer end, a compression spring surrounds the rod between the piston and head, and said inlet extends through the rod.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. I is a plan view;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

In the illustration the device is shown as a clamp applied to the jacket of a mold comprising top and bottom parts A and B, the jacket comprising four plates 1 having at their ends outturned flanges 2 which are spaced apart and parallel as shown in FIG. 1, a clamp extending through aligned openings 3 in the pair of flanges at each comer of the mold to draw the plates snugly against the sides of the mold, all as disclosed and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 19,860, now abandoned, tiled on even date herewith. However it will be understood of course that the clamp may be used to clamp any two parts together.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a cylinder 4, a piston 5, and a rod 6 secured to one end of the cylinder with a nut 7 and projecting from the other end of the cylinder. The piston is slidable on the rod 6 and is provided with suitable packing material as indicated at 9. Threaded on the outer end of the rod 6 is a nut 11 and extending between the piston and nut is a compression spring 12. The rod 6 has an axial opening 13 leading to a transverse opening 14 at the inner end of the rod. The outer end of the rod carries a nipple 16 for attachment to an air hose 17.

In use the nut l l and nipple 16 are removed and the portion of the rod between the piston 5 and nut 11 is inserted through the openings 3 in the flanges 2 to be clamped together. After the clamp is positioned air is admitted to the cylinder through openings 13 and 14, thereby forcing the piston 5 toward the nut 11 to clamp the flanges 2 therebetween. When fluid pressure is released the spring 12 returns the piston 5 to retracted position at the inner end of the cylinder.

While the invention is illustrated as operating a clamp it will be understood that the device may be used to operate any mechanism. The invention is especially useful in mechanisms where the piston pushes instead of pulls.

I claim:

1. A fluid-operated device comprising a cylinder having an open end, a piston movable in the cylinder, a rod extending through the piston, an inner end of the rod projecting through one end of the piston and being fast to one end of the cylinder and an outer end of the rod projecting through the other end of the piston and having a head thereon, the piston being slidable on the rod and having at least a portion thereof adapted to be moved to a position external to the open end of said cylinder, the cylinder having a fluid inlet for supplying fluid under pressure at said one end to force the piston away from said one end of the cylinder, and means for retracting the piston when fluid pressure is stopped.

2. A device according to claim 1 further characterized by a compression spring surrounding the rod between said other end of the piston and said head.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said inlet extends through said rod. 

1. A fluid-operated device comprising a cylinder having an open end, a piston movable in the cylinder, a rod extending through the piston, an inner end of the rod projecting through one end of the piston and being fast to one end of the cylinder and an outer end of the rod projecting through the other end of the piston and having a head thereon, the piston being slidable on the rod and having at least a portion thereof adapted to be moved to a position external to the open end of said cylinder, the cylinder having a fluid inlet for supplying fluid under pressure at said one end to force the piston away from said one end of the cylinder, and means for retracting the piston when fluid pressure is stopped.
 2. A device according to claim 1 further characterized by a compression spring surrounding the rod between said other end of the piston and said head.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said inlet extends through said rod. 